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State Water Board Presentation Outline Background – State Water Board’s Mission – State Water Board’s Role Regarding the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) – Water Quality Certification CEQA Process Public Input Types of CEQA Documents Environmental Resources Next Steps and What to Expect 2

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State Water Board’s Mission To preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California’s water resources, and ensure their proper allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov 3

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State Water Board: Background Authority over water rights and water quality to provide protection of California’s waters Protect and enforce many water uses including the needs of industry, agriculture, municipal districts, and the environment Balance between the various beneficial uses of water 4

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Why is the State Water Board involved? Rugraw, LLC submitted an application for water quality certification on May 20, 2014 State Water Board regulates hydroelectric projects via issuance of water quality certifications (Section 401 of Clean Water Act) – Protect water quality – Balance beneficial uses – Consider existing water rights 5

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CEQA State Water Board is making a discretionary decision with water quality certification As Rugraw, LLC is not a public agency, State Water Board is lead agency for CEQA – Decides type of CEQA document – Decides level of detail – Represents State Water Board’s independent judgment 6

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Water Quality Certification State Water Board will use CEQA document to develop an assessment of the project CEQA document will be used to support the action taken for the water quality certification, if issued, including any conditions in the certification 7

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Water Quality Certification If a water quality certification is issued, conditions in it become a mandatory part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license Nothing in water quality certification can preempt Federal law, it is additive to any conditions FERC places on the project 8

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Development of CEQA Document State Water Board is seeking comments: – Type of CEQA document that should be prepared – Impacts that should be analyzed – Project alternatives 9

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CEQA Objectives Disclose to the public reasons for agency approval of projects with significant environmental effects Foster interagency coordination in the review of projects Enhance public participation in the planning process 11

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Public Input The CEQA document will have a public review and comment period The State Water Board plans on releasing a draft water quality certification at the same time as the draft CEQA document 13

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Next Steps Presentation will be posted to the Lassen Lodge Hydroelectric Project webpage State Water Board staff will work with a consultant to develop a draft CEQA document based on existing information and comments collected. There will be a public comment period for the draft CEQA document. 17